Mike Westbrook – The Westbrook Blake: Bright As Fire (Original Records, 1980 First Signed Pressing)
I had the pleasure of seeing Mike and Kate Westbrook perform their 'The Westbrook Blake' suite last night in St John's Church in Central London. Have to admit that it isn't my favourite of Westbrook's but I couldn't pass down the opportunity to see him play live and it was an incredible setting for it.
During the interval, I chatted with Mike and showed him this record ('The Westbrook Blake') and my test pressing of his 1970 'Love Songs'. He just kind of grunted when he saw the test pressing was 'Love Songs' and when I asked if he could sign one of the records he said "I won't be signing that one" (referring to 'Love Songs') in quite an aggressive way, but happily signed 'The Westbrook Blake'. I had read that he regretted making 'Love Songs' and I assumed it was down to it being a less developed album which ended up being considered one of his better ones, so maybe that was an annoyance. I now wonder if theres something a bit more to it, I certainly didn't expect such a strong of a reaction.